MATTERS OF URGENCY

Senator WHITTEN (Western Australia) (16:42): I rise to speak on this matter of urgency. Yesterday, outside Parliament House, decorated Australian veterans laid down their medals. They did not do it lightly.

Those medals stand for service and sacrifice. They were laid down as a condemnation of this Labor government. Labor's $5,000 annual cap on allied health cover for veterans is a travesty.

Physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy and rehabilitation for those that risk their lives for this country have been cut short. Labor might be trying to back away now, saying that it triggers a review, but the damage done to the trust of our diggers is irreparable. Veterans with complex injuries and PTSD will hit that ceiling and then fight extra bureaucracy just to keep seeing their clinicians.

Matt Keogh refused to even shake the hands of veterans that came to plead with him for some humanity. Matt Keogh has to go, this cap has to go, and One Nation will always support our veterans.